Famines Today

Six famines in the world right now

One of the most terrible and immediate effects of climate change is famine, as agriculture yields drop and supply chains are disrupted. This is not a prediction, it is already happening.

Through extensive research (which is to say, I asked an AI), I learned that six regions of the world are currently experiencing famine, food insecurity, and severe hunger (terms that are often used interchangeably):

• Gaza Strip. Caused by Israel’s prosecution of the war.
• East Africa. Caused by droughts and conflicts.
• South Sudan. Caused by civil war and economic instability.
• Yemen. Caused by conflict.
• Afghanistan. Caused by conflict, political instability, and poverty.
• Sahal region of Africa. Caused by conflict, climate shocks, and poverty.

In the bullet list above, two of the six items mention drought and climate shocks which are likely climate-change related. However, they all mention war and conflicts. Some of these conflicts are at least partly driven by climate change. Further interrogation of my AI (Gemini) reveals that climate change plays a significant role in every region. Here I quote the AI:

Climate change is a significant factor contributing to food insecurity in the five regions mentioned: East Africa, South Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, and the Sahel Region. [Gaza was added by the author.] Here’s a breakdown of how climate change interacts with other factors to worsen hunger:

East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia):

Droughts: Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts in East Africa. Rising temperatures lead to higher evaporation rates, reducing available water for agriculture and livestock.

Erratic Rainfall: Even when it rains, precipitation patterns have become more unpredictable. Flash floods can damage crops, while unpredictable dry spells during planting seasons disrupt agricultural cycles.

South Sudan:

Climate Shocks: Similar to East Africa, South Sudan experiences more frequent and severe droughts and floods due to climate change.

Conflict & Displacement: Climate shocks exacerbate existing tensions over scarce resources. Conflict disrupts food production and distribution, further worsening food security.

Yemen:

Reduced Rainfall: Climate change has contributed to a decline in average rainfall in Yemen, impacting agricultural productivity.

Conflict & Infrastructure Damage: The ongoing conflict has devastated Yemen’s infrastructure, including water management systems, leading to water scarcity and hindering food production.

Afghanistan:

Glacier Melt: Rising temperatures are causing accelerated melting of glaciers in Afghanistan, a crucial source of water for irrigation during dry seasons. This threatens long-term water security for agriculture.

Erratic Weather: Similar to other regions, Afghanistan experiences more extreme weather events like droughts and floods, disrupting agricultural activities.

Sahel Region (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger):

Desertification: Climate change is causing land degradation and desertification in the Sahel, shrinking the areas suitable for agriculture.

Unpredictable Rainfall: Erratic rainfall patterns lead to crop failures and reduce pasture availability for livestock, impacting food security for both humans and animals.

Overall, climate change acts as a threat multiplier, amplifying existing vulnerabilities to food insecurity. Here’s how:

Reduced Agricultural Productivity: Droughts, floods, and extreme weather events directly impact crop yields and livestock production.

Water Scarcity: Reduced rainfall and increased evaporation rates lead to water scarcity, a critical resource for agriculture.

Resource Competition: Droughts and land degradation can lead to competition for scarce resources like water and fertile land, increasing social tensions and conflicts.

Displacement: Climate change-induced droughts and disasters can force people to leave their homes, further disrupting food production and access.

This explanation also points to the second most terrible and immediate effect of climate change: war and conflict.

In addition, there are reports of severe hunger in parts of China due to flooding in the Yangtze River basin and drought there and elsewhere. There is also food insecurity in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, which some believe is partly driven by Putin’s desire to seize the significant Ukrainian grain production to alleviate Russia’s growing food shortfalls.

And let’s not leave out the good ol’ USA. As our Republican-dominated Congress heartlessly terminates Covid-19 assistance programs, an increasing number of American children are going to bed hungry tonight.

If you have any doubts about the impact of climate change today, if you think it might affect only places that make the news when there is a storm, a flood, or a heat wave, think again:

• Millions are already starving and dying due to climate change, simply through impacts on our food production systems.
• Climate-driven or -exacerbated wars and conflicts are already on-going.

As a global civilization, we are already deep in the climate disaster soup. Famines, but plenty of that soup for everyone.